The European Union and Libya : the dawn of a new era in the bilateral relations?

Abstract

After years in isolation Libya has rejoined the international community. This dissertation examines the transformation in Libya's image and how its relation to the EU has changed over the years. The theoretical pillars of the dissertation are the Rogue State Theory and Coercive Diplomacy and Attempts. The dissertation examines how Libya was labelled as a 'rogue state' and how its alleged involvement in terrorism led to the imposition of multilateral sanctions on it These were only lifted in 2004 when Libya started rehabilitating particularly by abandoning its WMDs programme. Due to the triangular relationship between Europe, the Arab States and Israel, Libya's proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, known as Isratine, is also discussed. Then, the discussion analyses European programmes for the Mediterranean and why Libya was always reluctant to join them. This dissertation claims that there were three main reasons for this. Primarily there was Libya's rejection of Israel. Participating in Mediterranean polices where Israel is present would imply Libya's acceptance of Israel. Another possibility is that Libyan political elites never wanted to accede to European demands for reforms including those for minimal government intervention among other demands. The last potential reason mentioned is Libya's fear of being controlled by a foreign power. The ENP is also discussed because although not a member, Libya is eligible to join it Next, light is shed on how the issue of irregular migration recently enhanced relations between Italy and Libya. What follows then is a discussion of the current negotiations of the EU-Libya Framework Agreement. Information was collected from books, documents, publications, foreign relations journals and diplomatic sources. The dissertation concludes by stating that Libya has now realised that its relation with the EU is symbiotic. The answer to whether this is the dawn of a new era in the bilateral relations of the EU and Libya is a qualified yes. Progress has been registered, but more steps need to be taken. Relations with Libya can be unstable and progress has to be cautious for real fruit to be borne.